Psychiatric Disorders in Methadone Patients

Background: Psychiatric co-morbidities are common among patients with substance use disorders. Psychiatric disorders influence effectiveness of treatment programs and quality of life of the patients. However, data regarding co-occurrence of psychiatric disorders are lacking in low-middle income countries. We therefore determined the prevalence of psychiatric disorders among methadone patients in Indonesia and how this affected their quality of life. Methods: Data on psychiatric disorders and quality of life were collected in 112 injecting drug users attending methadone maintenance program in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia using Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) and the EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D). Results: Sixty-four of the patients (57%) reported psychiatric disorders and 42% had current psychiatric problems. The most diagnosed disorders were within anxiety disorder category (32%). However, forty-nine patients (44%) had experienced a psychotic disorder in their life time. Depression episode correlated significantly with quality of life. Conclusion: Psychiatric disorders in methadone patients were high. Therefore those who deliver addiction care also have to address psychiatric co-morbidity in order to have a better outcome.